The Mint Museum of Toys is the world's first purpose-built museum for toys, which showcases a private collection of vintage toys, including rare and unique one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world. The museum is located at 26 Seah Street, in the Arts & Heritage district of Singapore. It was officially opened on March 5, 2007 and officiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo.
The museum collection includes more than 50,000 pieces of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia from the mid-19th century to mid-20th Century. All the toys displayed in the museum are the lifetime collection of Singaporean, Chang Yang Fa, an alumnus of St Andrew's School.
Exhibits on display include Disneyana toys, Astro Boy, Batman, Bonzo the Dog, Dan Dare, Popeye the Sailor, Pre-war Japanese toys, including a 'Door of Hope' Chinese doll collection dating from the turn of the 20th Century, Teddy Bear Collection as well as Chinese comics and comic covers dating from 1920's, Tintin collectables and many others. The collection is said to originate from over 40 countries worldwide.
The collection is housed within an award winning five-storey contemporary building designed by Chan Soo Khian, Principal Architect of SCDA Architects. The building has garnered international awards including The Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design “International Architecture Awards” 2007 and was Runners Up in the Commercial Building Category for the Cityscape Architectural Review Award, held on 4 December 2006, at Cityscape Dubai 2006. The museum was also awarded the 2007 International Architectural Award for Best New Global Design by the Chicago Athenaeum.
